SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

A school-parent compact has been devised to outline how parents, students, and staff will share the responsibility for the improvement of student academic achievement.  It will be signed by all stakeholders and reviewed annually and modified as needed.  The compact will include:

• Staff responsibilities for ensuring student academic achievement in the California State Standards.
   
• Parent responsibilities for supporting their child’s academic achievement (e.g. regular student attendance, homework, parent attendance at school events and conferences)
   
• Student responsibilities for academic success (e.g. focus on learning, being prepared, being respectful and responsible for behavior and assigned work)

 

The staff at Washington Elementary School recognizes that family and community involvement are essential components for student success.
The engagement of parents, families, and community members in the education of our children creates a positive bond between the home and the school. Research shows that when schools and families work together to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school, but throughout life.  In fact, the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student’s family is able to:
 

• Create a home environment that encourages learning;
• Express high expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers;
• Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.

 
*Parent involvement refers to the efforts of any caregiver who has the responsibility for caring for a child, including parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, stepparents, etc.

BUILDING CAPACITY FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT

In order to improve student academic achievement and enhance the partnership among the school, parents, and the community, we will do the following:
 
Provide regularly scheduled informational meetings and workshops to address topics requested and needed by parents.  To address the requirements in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title I, Section 1118, the school shall enable parents to gain a better understanding of the following:

• State academic content standards and achievement goals all students are expected to meet.
   
• How to monitor their children’s progress through interpreting state and district assessment reports and student progress reports.
   
• Strategies to use at home to support their child’s academic achievement, such as monitoring the completion of homework and school assignments, reading with their child, working with math, literacy training, etc.
   
• Strategies and techniques to assist their children with learning activities at home that support and extend the school’s instructional program
   
• Skills to access community and support services that strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning and development.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY

An annual meeting will be held at the beginning of each school year to review and update this policy and to inform parents of their rights under Title I.  The team will review instructional programs to determine ways to improve student achievement through parent involvement. Issues, concerns and feedback will be solicited from parents to ensure improvement to our school programs.
 
Parents will be involved in the following manner:
 

• Parent support classes will be held in both English and Spanish so that all parents are provided the opportunity to fully participate.
   
• Parent support classes will be offered in the evenings to provide all parents the opportunity to participate.
   
• Parent Title I school wide program meetings will be held as required.
   
• The state assessment results will be reviewed at an annual meeting including the Annual Proficiency Index (API) and the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
   
• All parents are invited to attend Back to School Night.  The administrators and teachers will provide presentations regarding grade-level curriculum, the California State Standards, and expected proficiency levels for student achievement.
   
• Teachers will provide parents with progress reports each trimester as needed to inform them of their child’s academic status and provide suggestions for assistance.
   
• Teachers will hold parent conferences two times each year to discuss academic and behavioral progress.

ACCESSIBILITY

Washington School will provide parents with limited English proficiency opportunities to fully participate in school-sponsored activities/events by translating all meetings and workshops.  All written notices will be in both English and Spanish.  As needed, additional support will be provided for parents with disabilities.